Hey all.  There is a good chance that my brother and I will be in town for the Packers game.  I'll know for sure after the bowl announcements are made (on 12/6).  If the Hawkeys are in the Fiesta, as they are projected by many, then I'll be there.

Anyway, I was wondering if anybody knows the best way to get a couple of tickets to the Packers game?

Thanks in advance.

The last 3 games we have averaged 26 carries for 153 yards (5.8 ypc).  Hightower has 35 carries for 222 (6.3 ypc) and Wells has 36 carries for 203 (5.6 ypc).  Are we getting better at this, or have our opponents been that bad?  Here are the numbers.

Bears - #23 in rushing yards allowed per game (122) and #16 in rushing yards allowed per carry (4.3).  Cards had 182 yards at 5.9 ypc.

Seahawks - #15 in rushing yards allowed per game (111) and #17 in rushing yards allowed per carry (4.3).  Cards had 122 at 4.1 ypc.

Rams - #28 in rushing yards allowed per game (146) and #29 in rushing yards allowed per carry (4.7).  Cards had 154 at 8.6 ypc.

Those teams look bad, but in all cases (except ypc vs. Seahawks where we were very close) we gained more both in terms of total yards and yards per carry than our opponents' averages.

So, again, I ask.  Are we getting better or are our opponents getting worse?  Please assign value to both the OL and the RBs if you are going to argue that we are improving.  I want to know if you think improvement is due more to our OL getting better or the presence of Beanie and growth of Hightower.

Thanks and GO CARDS!

What do you guys see as the future of our OL.  I'd like to see:

1) A first round OT taken in next year's draft.  We have to upgrade at at least one of the tackle spots and if I had to choose I'd rather it was Gandy that was demoted.  He is getting older and just gets abused by the higher quality DE's around the league.

2) Stick with Brown at RT (or maybe move him to LT if Leinart becomes the QB).  I know he has been pretty bad most of the time, but I think he fits what our coaching staff wants to do offensively down the road.  Even coming out of college, he was touted as a very good run blocker, which is what you want in a non-blindside tackle.  He is not a very good pass protector, but if we are going to be more run oriented, we can maybe give him more help than our tackles currently get.

3) I think Sendlein is a pretty good center.  To me, center is the most mentally taxing position on the line.  As he gains more experience, I feel he will continue to be a middle of the road NFL center, which is probably good enough if we are going to continue spending good money elsewhere.

4) I guess I don't know much about Herman Johnson's development at this point, but I'd like to see him get reps somewhere next year.  If he makes it as a tackle, then ammend #1 to drafting a guard.  To me, he would make a great road grating guard.

I have to admit that OL analysis is not my strong suit, but I have been thinking about this topic a lot lately and was hoping others could fill in the holes in my plan.  To me, OL improvement has to be a priority in the off season, especially if we are moving more towards a more balanced offensive attack.  What do you guys think and what would you like to see done to improve?

Below is an interesting website that looks at the percentages to determine if Belichick's decision to go for it on 4th and 2 from his 28 was a good move, by the numbers.  Of course this doesn't take into account things like: (1) the psyche of the defense, since a lot of the defensive players will consider going for it there a slap in their faces or (2) the chance that the Pats make it on 4th down and still lose (although this is so small it really isn't even worth putting in the calculation). 

I've had a pretty heated discussion with a friend at work about the decision.  Was just curious what you all think about the move?  Put it this way.  What would you want Whiz to do if the Cards were in the same situation?  Give the ball back to Manning with 2 minutes and 2 timeouts and 70 yards to go, or take control of the game with the 4th down attempt?  And does it make a difference if it is regular season of the Super Bowl?  I'll share my thoughts after a few of you chime in.

http://belichick-decision.heroku.com/

To me, there are 2 huge things to be worried about this week. 

1) Of course Peyton Manning and all he can do.  I don't think we can play a vanilla defense against him because I'm not sure our DL can put enough pressure on him.  And the Colts have several playmakers on offense (Wayne, Clark, and the up and comers in Brown and Garcon).  We have to speed things up somewhat or he'll pick us apart all game.  Of course he is as good as anybody when it comes to countering what the defense is throwing at him.  He can recognize a blitz and audible very easily.  I'm not sure how we'll attack that offense, but it will definitely be one huge factor in the game.

2) The Colts DE against our OT.  This one scares the living crap out of me.  In last night's game, the Dolphins were able to manage them somewhat by running some draw plays at them and by giving the tackles help on drop back passing plays.  But when the Dolphins had to move the ball at the end of the game and no help was given, the pressure was there.  Last season the Cards were hesitant to give the tackles any help because it reduced the number of receivers in play.  I don't see how we can leave the tackles alone against these guys.  They are both very fast around the corner.

Thoughts?

For the LSH fans out there, Whisenhunt had some nice words about the rookie in this week's MMQ by Peter King.

On the player on his team who America doesn't know now but will soon: "LaRod Stephens-Howling [5-7, 180-pound running back from Pitt, the seventh-round rookie]. He's like Darren Sproles. Wait 'til you see him.''

Hopefully the team has some packages that can utilize him in a way that can make the Sproles comparison more than just a physical one.

This seems like an obvious answer at first, but I would argue that Rashad Johnson will have a greater influence on the defense than Wells will on the offense.

Wells will likely split the carries with Hightower this year and will, hopefully, add some explosiveness to the position.  I just don't think the team needs him to be that influential right away.  We had a great offense last year, so I'm not sure how much he will be pushed.

Johnson on the other hand could have a HUGE impact in our nickel/dime packages next year if he does in fact have the ball hawking ability that I have read about.  We gave up so many big plays last year, and many of them happened when we knew the other team would be trying for them (i.e. 2nd/3rd and long situations).

Thoughts?  Am I crazy to think RJ will be more valuable in year 1 than Beanie?

Currently (pick #57), the Revenge of the Birds mock draft has LeSean McCoy still on the board.  Two questions: (1) Do you feel this scenario is possible tomorrow, and (2) if it does play out this way and the Cards go OLB in the first round do you feel the team should move up a few spots to get him? 

I could see the Giants (after losing Ward in the off-season) or the Colts taking him ahead of the Cardinals.